The Rhode
Island Lions Sight Foundation (RILSF) was founded in 1961 as the
charitable arm of the Lions Clubs International, District 42, Rhode
Island, USA. Our Mission is to provide assistance to the visually
impaired persons in our communities by partnering with the RI Lions
Clubs and by filling in the gaps where no local club is present.

The RILSF is
composed of representatives from Lions Clubs around Rhode Island, and
the assistance we provide can be financial, material, social and
developmental. Although Lions Clubs around the state are well known for
vision screenings at local businesses, schools, and health fairs and for
its collection of used eyeglasses for distribution in Third World
countries, the Rhode Island Lions Sight Foundation engages other
activities as well:

∑
Providing scores of grants to visually impaired Rhode Islanders for
corrective surgery, prostheses, or technical visual equipment in an
effort to give those individuals an opportunity for a full and
productive life.

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Sponsorship of 2 camps for Rhode Islandís visually-impaired youngsters;
One summer camp (Camp Mauchatea) and one winter camp at an indoor water
park. Here the kids get the opportunity to make friends, create bonds,
and share experiences that many of us take for granted. The memories
last a lifetime. You can learn more about the camps. Read.....

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Since 2008 we have sponsored a VIP Fishing Tournament for adult Visually
Impaired Persons and their guides on the Frances Fishing Fleet in Point
Judith, RI that really gives the participants some great fish stories to
talk about. This event has grown immensely in popularity, with the top
three winners attending the National event in North Carolina. You can
learn more. Read......

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Starting in 2015 the Foundation committed our support to the Veteranís
Rowing and Kayaking Association, which works with visually impaired and
disabled veterans, utilizing a rowing and fitness plan to promote a
healthy lifestyle in these individuals. The program starts with indoor
training in the winter and transitions to outdoor rowing in the spring.

∑One
of the Foundation's proudest contributions to sight conservation has
been the purchase of six PO2 monitors which prevent premature blindness
by carefully monitoring the intake of oxygen by premature infants at
Women & Infants Hospital in Providence.

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In 2001, RILSF was awarded a CORE 4 LCIF Grant to implement a statewide,
pre-school children's vision screening program utilizing photo
screening. This 3-year program was known as the Lions 4 Sight program,
and was our largest scale endeavor, with a goal to provide 10000
screenings per year. The goal was accomplished with the assistance of
Rhode Island Lions clubs Saving Sight RI and Brown University. Learn
more about our.
vision screening program Read.......

We
are proud to serve, and proud to be associated with Lions Clubs
International, the largest service organization in the world.